Write Your Way To Recovery

“Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.” This quote is by Graham Greene and he is right – airing one’s problem through art (in this case, the written form) is a great way to let off steam. And for those who are on the way to recovery or are still struggling with their daily lives, a lot of steam must be let loose.

Most people do not like the idea of airing their problems in public. In fact, a lot of people don’t get help simply because they do not like to converse with other people about their problems. Some think that it would be too awkward, while some don’t think that this kind of approach fixes things anyway. A great solution for those who can be classified as introverts is to write instead of going to a psychologist. (However, it is advisable to still go to a councilor or someone knowledgeable in this field in order to get the most benefits out of writing.)

Writing is a cheap form of therapy and a lot of writers have been known to possess quite a few inner demons. They got rid of said demons by writing like there’s no tomorrow. Nowadays, writing can be done on whatever piece of technology you want. Whether you own a tablet, a notebook (either the electronic or the good old fashioned one), or even a rickety old typewriter, it’s always a good idea to write about your day or even about something completely random, say your fantastical dream about a trip to a nearby lake with Marilyn Monroe.

What if I’m Not A Good Writer?
There is no “good” or “bad” writer. Since we view writing as an art form and art is subjective, only the critics can say that a certain art piece is bad or good. Take Gertrude Stein’s poetry. Google her poems to see how “ridiculous” her poems are. But a lot of people hail her as a genius and she was the go-to woman of a lot of artists back in the day.

What Should I Write About?
You can write about whatever goes through your mind. Writers would call it “free writing”. A lot of poets and fictionists use their free writing pieces as basis for their art. A lot of award-winning novels and poems were based on scraps of paper or in the case of J.K. Rowling, on scraps of tissue paper while she was hanging out in a random café. Free writing is a great way to start writing if you have no idea what to write about. It doesn’t have to be about your emotions or about your deep dark secrets. You can always start off by writing about your surroundings or your musings on your favorite pet.

Will Writing Really Help Me?
The only harm writing can do is…well, none. Writing is a great way of alleviating depression and anger. It’s also a great cure for boredom. Writing on a diary or journal is a great way to trace one’s progress and it could also prove to be useful in the future when a person is going through a bad phase and may need a few words from the best shrink there is – the Self.